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JAMES MORRISON DECADES

JAMES MORRISON DECADES

6 to 23 January 2017

16 Dundas Street · Edinburgh EH3 6HZ +44 (0) 131 558 1200 mail@ scottish-gallery.co.uk www.scottish-gallery.co.uk

P R E FA C E

James Morrison had his first exhibition with The Scottish Gallery in 1959 and this show of new and some earlier work will be his twenty-fourth with us. The presumption must be that if a relationship between a gallery and an artist works it will persist, but also that in selecting its artists for exhibition the gallery is not influenced by what is à la mode, in a world constantly over-heated with wolfish interest in novelty. Instead the gallery should support and trust an artist in their endeavour while the artist will gain momentum from the process of exhibition, contemplation and renewal of work. In this way, generations of art lovers have been introduced to Morrison and over the decades as his work has developed many have continued their interest and enriched their collections with works as physically disparate as The Gorbals and Ellesmere Island and as psychologically separate as Notre Dame Cathedral and the battlefields of the Somme. Today, physical challenges have arrived uninvited and been overcome – the central motif of the artist, an inner eye that can recognise universal truths in nature, is unaltered and as striking and original as it was in 1959.

Guy Peploe

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INTRODUCTION

The retrospective exhibition at the Fleming Gallery in London

such as Connonsyth (2009) would be augmented with more studied

in 2013 brought together a collection of Morrison’s work from his

elements painted later in the studio. In the most recent paintings

60 years as a painter. In common with that show this exhibition

that consciously designed element has grown as the works are

is drawn from across the artist’s long career. The majority of the

increasingly painted indoors with the method of working adapting

works are recent or from the last twenty years but there are paint-

to suit. Now work is completed wholly in his studio. Images are

ings from the 1960s to the present day.

developed relative to each other and to memory. The method is

James Morrison is a painter of landscape and this show offers

the same, preliminary thin washes are used to define light with

the opportunity to consider some of the pathways of his career.

the lightest tones created by wiping out back to the bright white

The core painting venues repeatedly visited and revisited are

ground. Later paint is applied in increasing thick layers building

represented here as are the shifting responses to the land. The

contrasting values of light and dark.

evolution of the now readily identifiable visual language can be

Focal points are worked further with opaque colour. Gestures

seen as can the oscillation between Classicism and Romanticism

are suggestive of form, rather than specific in detail but still full

and a fusion of the two. Just as the sources and the technique

of energy and intent. The emphasis has moved from a majority of

evolve and shift, the paintings can also operate in different ways

works centred on recording a sense of place in discrete moments

for the viewer. Always more than simple transcriptions of nature,

of time, towards a more cerebral memory of place and of structure.

they can appear as a visual diary with entries marking points in

Work now develops more slowly, is more reflective. In these

time or they can evoke memory and hint at meaning forever just

paintings a conscious theatricality has emerged, on occasion

out of reach.

utilising virtual silhouettes, and sometimes radically reduced and

Morrison’s oil painting technique of washes of well thinned

heightened colour range. Along with these developments has

oil colour over a smooth gesso ground has evolved over years,

at times come a revival of an interest first explored in the 1960s

seasons and weathers. The familiar easy beginning of thin washes

in extreme linear formats, seen in works such as Meditation on

of colour applied with a generous broad brush is a counterpoint to

Nether Dysart. These paintings are reflected upon more in the

the often more intricate work to follow. The method developed in

creative process and build gradually towards their final form. They

order to paint rapidly outside with a concentration on tonal acuity,

draw less on direct experience and are more reliant on decades of

recording particular light events as they occurred, with paintings

looking and seeing the colour, weather, light and form, of Angus in

such as Western Space being painted almost entirely outdoors. In

particular. A distillation rather than a point in time.

contrast the tonal structure initially established for a painting

Alyson MacNeill & John Morrison

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DECADES

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1 Landscape, Angus, 1965 oil on board · 17 x 20 cms

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2 Denhead Farm II, 1963 oil on board · 33 x 91.5 cms

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3 Summer Fields, Balgove, 16.vii.1987 oil on gesso board · 80 x 114 cms · detail opposite

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4 From Craig, 4.ix.1993 oil on board · 90 x 150 cms · detail opposite

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5 Blue Hills, 15.vii.1998 oil on board · 100 x 150 cms

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6 Sky Study II, Montrose, 28.iv.2001 oil on board · 100 x 150 cms

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7 Horizon, Quinag, 16.v.2002 oil on board · 86.5 x 131 cms

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8 Ristol and Mullagrach, 20.v.2003 oil on board · 101.5 x 152.5 cms

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9 Assynt, 23.iii.2008 oil on board · 57 x 78 cms

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10 Atlantic Cloud, 12.v.2003 oil on board · 101.5 x 152.5 cms

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11 Cloud Capped Towers, 21.v.2003 oil on board · 48 x 152.5 cms

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12 The Tweed, 26.xii.2003 oil on board · 46 x 152.5 cms

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13 The Powis, 7.iii.2006 oil on board · 69 x 105 cms

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14 Cloudy, VII.2006 oil on board · 65 x 104 cms · detail opposite

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15 Cononsyth, v.2008 oil on board · 79 x 152 cms

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16 Rhum and Eigg from Morar, 17.v.2009 oil on board · 96 x 152 cms

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17 Northwards, IX.2010 oil on board · 34. 5 x 152 cms

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18 Finally Summer, Mull, 3.vi.2001 oil on board · 97 x 152 cms

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19 Farm and Sea, 20.i.2011 oil on board · 30 x 61 cms

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20 Birch Tree, 12.x.2011 oil on board · 76 x 44 cms

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21 Winter Light, 17.i.2011 oil on board · 35 x 109 cms

22 Dunninald Trees, 23.iii.2012 oil on board · 74 x 102 cms

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23 Meditation on Nether Dysart IV, 13.xi.2013 oil on board · 10 x 147 cms

24 Meditation on Nether Dysart XI, 2.i.2014 oil on board · 51 x 142 cms

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25 Morning Sun, 21.vii.2013 oil on board · 28 x 38 cms

26 Strathella, 1.v.2013 oil on board · 93 x 154 cms

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27 Summer Isles II, 2013

28 Approaching Storm, II.2016

oil on board · 29 x 50 cms

oil on board · 30.5 x 40.5 cms

29 To the North East, 2013 oil on board · 19 x 23.5 cms

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30 Farm on the Skyline, 31.iii.2014 oil on board · 22 x 65 cms

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31 Edge of the Forest, 10.v.2014 oil on board · 27 x 28 cms

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32 Solitude, 14.ii.2015 oil on board · 47 x 148 cms

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33 Angus, II.2016 oil on board · 36 x 64 cms

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34 Dunes at Lunan, II.2016 oil on board · 36 x 43 cms

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35 Sky and Dunes, October 2016 oil on board · 73 x 102 cms

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36 Strathmore, 2013 oil on board · 16 x 19 cms

37 The Sheltering Sky, October 2016 oil on board · 73 x 102 cms

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38 Some Sunlight, 22.v.2015 oil on board · 70 x 110 cms

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39 To the North, October 2016 oil on board · 73 x 102 cms

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40 Fallow Ground, 2016 oil on board · 37 x 44 cms

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41 The Lunan, XI.2016 oil on board · 36 x 54 cms

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Portrait?

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J A M E S M O R R I S O N R S A R S W D . U n i v.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 1932 Born in Glasgow

1956, 58 McClure Gallery, Glasgow

1950–54 Studied at Glasgow School of Art 1958 Won Torrance Memorial Prize, RGI

1959, 64, 67, 75, 78, 84, 88, 90, 92, 94, 97, 99, 2002, 2005 The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

Founder Member of Glasgow Group

1962 The Reid Gallery London

1962–63 Visiting Artist at Hospitalfield House, Arbroath

1968, 70 Vaughan College, Leicester

1965 Moved to Montrose

1970, 77 Compass Gallery, Glasgow

Joined staff at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee 1968 Arts Council Travelling Scholarship to Greece

1968, 69 Richard Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh 1971, 72 Galleria Vaccarino, Florence 1973 Steiger Gallery, Moers, Germany 1974 Düsseldorf Kunstmesse

1969–71 Presenter of BBC Arts Programme Scope

1979, 81, 85, 95, 97, 2000 Thackeray Gallery, London

From 1976 Painting in various regions of France – Provence, Isere, Lot and Paris

1986 The Fine Art Society, Glasgow 1987 Waddington and Shiell Gallery, Toronto

1979–87 Senior Lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone

1988 Perth Festival Exhibition, Perth Museum and Art Gallery

1987 Resigned post at Dundee to paint full-time

1989 The Scottish Gallery, London; The Macaulay Gallery, Stenton

Extended painting trip to Canada

1990 The Glasgow Paintings, William Hardie Gallery, Glasgow

1988 Writer and presenter of STV series The Scottish Picture Show 1990, 92, 94, 96 Painting in the Canadian High Arctic 1997 Painting in Botswana

1991 Paintings of the Canadian Arctic, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 1991, 94 The Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven

1999 Painting in the Fens, Cambridgeshire

1992 Paris in Winter (drawings) – The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

2003 Painting in Switzerland

1993 The Arlesford Gallery, Hampshire

2007 Painting in Collioure, France

1995 Talbot Rice Gallery, (Arctic works) University of Edinburgh 2000 Painting of Mawana, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

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GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2000 Art London, The Scottish Gallery at the London Art Fair 2007 New Paintings, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2008 New Paintings, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2008 Painting Exhibition, Partridge Fine Art, London in association with The Scottish Gallery 2009 The Edge of Allegory, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2010 James Morrison at Kinblethmont, Kinblethmont, Angus 2012 A View from Here, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2013 Land and Landscape: The Painting of James Morrison, Fleming Collection, London 2013 James Morrison at Gallery 8, The Scottish Gallery, London

1981–82 Contemporary Art from Scotland, Touring Exhibition: Kendal, London, Sheffield, Cardiff, Middlesbrough

1964 +/-30, an exhibition of contemporary Scottish Art, Scottish Arts Council

1982 Small is Beautiful, Dunkeld Gallery; Glasgow Group Jubilee, McLellan Galleries, Glasgow

1966 10 West of Scotland Painters, Arts Council Gallery, Belfast 1967 First Edinburgh Open 100, Festival Exhibition, Richard Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh 1968 Three Centuries of Scottish Paintings, Canada Scottish Contemporary Painting, Richard Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh 1969 Oireachtais Exhibition, Municipal Gallery, Dublin 2 plus 3 Exhibition: Two Canadians and Three Scots (with Robert Downing, Jack Wise, Neil Dallas Brown and John Knox), Richard Demarco Gallery

2013 For Greer McKay – Move Him Into the Sun, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

1973 Galleria Acropoli, Venice

2015 The North Wind, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

1977 Seven Painters in Dundee, Scottish Arts Council Exhibition, The McManus, Dundee

2015 Paintings of War, Montrose Museum, Montrose 2017 Decades, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

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1956 The Arts and the Cafe Royal, an exhibition of contemporary painting, Edinburgh

1976–85 Scottish Art, ESU, Edinburgh Festival

1980 Scottish Painting in Holland Scottish Print Open 2, an exhibition of contemporary Scottish prints 1981 Art Fair, Basel; Contemporary Scottish Painting, Arts Council Touring Exhibition; Eleven Scottish Artists, Universities of Surrey and Nottingham; Art in the City, MacLean Gallery, London

1983 Noise and Smoky Breath, Visual Images of Glasgow 1900–1983, Third Eye Centre, Glasgow 1984 Different Kinds of Good Weather, Arts Council Touring Exhibition; A Festival of Scottish Drawing, Fine Arts Society, Glasgow 1985 Art for Africa, Contemporary Scottish Art, City of Edinburgh Art Centre 1985 Portraits on Paper, Scottish Arts Council; The Parks in Glasgow, Compass Gallery, Glasgow 1986 Contemporary Scottish Painting, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh 1988 A Festival of Gardens, Fine Arts Society, Glasgow; 20th Anniversary, Thackeray Gallery, London; Post 1945 and Contemporary Art, Ewan Mundy Fine Art 1989 A View from the North East, ESU Gallery, Edinburgh; The Auld Alliance, Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven & The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh; London Sea and Shore, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 1990 Scottish Art, 1900–1990, The Scottish Gallery, London; Paintings from the Clydesdale Bank Collecion, Glasgow; 21 Years of Contemporary Art, Tramway Gallery, Glasgow; A Patron of Art, The Royal Bank Collection, Edinburgh

COLLECTIONS Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum

High Life Highland Exhibitions Unit

ANGUSalive

Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow

Art in Heatlhcare

I.B.M.

1993 The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

Aviva PLC

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Bank of Scotland

Life Association of Scotland

1999 Mountain, Wolverhampton Art Gallery; Members of the RSA, The Albemarle Gallery, London

BBC

Lillie Art Gallery, Glasgow

Brascan, Canada

Lloyds Bank PLC

Britoil PLC

Low and Bonar PLC

1991 Scottish Art in the 20th Century, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol 1992 150th Anniversary Exhibition, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

Connections, RSA Festival Exhibition; Painter Members of the RSA, Albemarle Gallery, London 2001 Aspects of Scottish Drawings, 1900–2001, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2004 Art London with The Scottish Gallery 2008 Alliance Francaise, (with Douglas Davies), Glasgow Exhibition 2015 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Kinblethmont, Angus

City of Edinburgh Council

Perth Museum and Art Gallery

Clydesdale Bank

Perth and Kinross Council

Department of the Environment (DEFRA)

Royal Scottish Academy, Edinbrugh

Royal Bank of Scotland

Distillers Co PLC

Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society

Dundas & Wilson

Scottish Fisheries Museum

Dundee Art Galleries and Museum

SISIS Equipment Ltd

Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, Stirling and Strathclyde Universities

Strathclyde Regional Council

Earl of Airlie

The Scottish Arts Council

Earl of Dalhousie Earl of Moray

Tayside House, Dundee The Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation Vaughan College, Leicester Wm Grant and Sons Ltd

Edinburgh Fund Managers Glasgow School of Art

Works in offices and Embassies worldwide

Glasgow Museums Resrouce Centre

Works in Private Collections in the UK, Canada, Europe and USA

Government Art Collection Grampian Television H.R.H Duke of Edinburgh

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Land and Landscape: the Painting of James Morrison 160pp · £30.00 · 27 x 24 cms Land and Landscape: the Painting of James Morrison, Professor John Morrison’s book on his father, published by The Fleming Collection, is available in three different versions (blue, aubergine and brown).

It was published to coincide with the major retrospective of the artist held at The Fleming Collection, London from the 19 February – 6 April 2013. Please contact the Gallery for more information.

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16 Dundas Street · Edinburgh EH3 6HZ Telephone +44 (0) 131 558 1200 Email mail@scottish-gallery.co.uk www.scottish-gallery.co.uk Gallery hours: Monday to Friday 10–6pm and Saturday 10–4pm Published by The Scottish Gallery for the exhibition James Morrison: Decades held at 16 Dundas Street from 6 to 23 January 2017

ISBN 978 1 910267 50 9 Images © James Morrison 2o17 Catalogue © The Scottish Gallery 2017 All rights reserved Photography by John McKenzie Designed and typeset in Kingfisher by Dalrymple Printed in Scotland by J Thomson Front and back covers: detail from Strathella, 1.v.2013 [26]